I think I’ve finally found the phrase that identifies me, at least with regards to the kinda guys I go for. According to part 3 of the Gay Muslims documentary, I would be a “Mohammed queen”. (Similar to how a white guy who likes East Asian guys is called a “rice queen” and a non-white guy who likes white guys is called a “snow queen.”) I feel like my ideal lover and life partner would be a guy who identifies as Muslim and practices the faith (or, at least, shows some genuine love/affection for it).

Salaam and Greetings of Peace:

RAMADAN KAREEM! – Below are 30 Daily Ramadan Prayers (Duas) that will, inshallah, make the fast easier, enlighten the mind, and ennoble the heart.

Ramadan Dua: DAY 1

ALLAH, on this day make my fasts the fasts of those who fast (sincerely), and my standing up in prayer of those who stand up in prayer (obediently), awaken me in it from the sleep of the heedless, and forgive me my sins , O God of the worlds, and forgive me, O one who forgives the sinners.

Ramadan Dua: DAY 2

iFaqeer has suggested putting together a public service Eid greeting that would encourage unity in the community despite the date differences.  I am not sure if he is suggesting an extra eid gathering that everyone could attend.  I'm not quite sure what the public service announcement would do.  Is it just to say "Eid Mubarak" no matter what?  If so, I want to ask you all what do you think of this?  Is the split so bad that people do not actually exchange Eid greetings?  What is up with all this?  Also do you think the Fiqh Council's date will change matters much?  What is going on???

Jump through to see his blog on the matter from last year.

This blog entry from an Orthodox Moor mentions his fasting Ramadan in a uniquely MOC way.

From the History and Catechism of the Moorish Orthodox Church of America:

What is Moorish Orthodoxy? What is its "Catechism"?

In effect, there is none. Moorish Orthodoxy is like a mirror in which each seeker beholds a beloved form, each one different.

I wish I could get behind this, I really do.

Writing about Ramadan for the mothers of small children, a sister discusses the difficulties of keeping up fasting and trying to find time for extra acts of worship while caring for a baby. She recounts trying to pray tarawih at the mosque, and the hostile reaction of some of the congregation when her baby cried. She suggests that women such as herself could focus their Ramadan instead on carrying out acts of kindness to others. 

I'm all for kindness. I'd like to see far more of it, especially in our Muslim communities (which often seem pretty kindness-challenged). I would like to be a kinder person myself, so I'm trying to do at least one kind deed per day.

But.

I am not a fan of Irshad Manji, Wafa Sultan or Ayan Hirsi Ali. You can google me on that--or search this blog . But we--yes, me included--critique these folks morning, noon, and noony night, to quote the children's story character, for saying, na'uzu billahi min zalik, that "Islam needs reform" or that the Qur'an "has ambiguities, inconsistencies, outright contradictions and -- gasp! -- the possibility of human editing." (An exact quote. See: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/irshad-manji/the-riots-in-jalalabad_b_1013.html)

Surah Rahman (suurat ar-raHmaan, for you hyper-correct individuals out there). I started my annual (re)memorization of it yesterday since Sunday was my first day of fasting. Don't ask; this post isn't about the politics of starting Ramadan, but it is about Surah Rahman. My first Ramadan was a magnificant time of spiritual growth for me and most of it is due to this surah. I had converted during Ramadan, 1991 a couple of days before Eid. So, I consider the Ramadan after it to be my first real Ramadan. Back then Ramadan fell in March-April so it was cold but springy in my hometown in the North East. I was still pretty grateful that God had guided me. I know that may sound pompously fundamentalist, but that was how I felt and continue to feel about being introduced to the spirituality and theology of Islam and having the choice to take it or leave it (I'm not talking about the people, mind you!). God is just.